The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-21
bad hnmor. This man couidhel, him.

Bay DlcluOi' cNNuotii tOubhhNoot
somebody stepped on my corn just
now. What does she say" he asked,
eagerly.
"That she cannot sing her songs in
n strange land; that she has left her
soul among the roses. All, you ras-
cal, see. Roses! But not Tor the
blond Lillian"
"No; introduce mel" eagerly cried
Vance. And that was the way 1t be-
gan.
1t was only Zachary Sheldon's con.
fidence in the supreme power OF money
that made him underestimate the
| charm OF youth, and eager hopes
and young romance. He found
out his mistake when, smitten beyond
his power to withstand it, he offered
himself and his money-bags to the pale
Italian girl. 1t was rather comical to
see the emotion in his fat face, the
eleam in his small, pale eyes.
Rosalia did not smile. She was
troubled; but the luminous pallor OF
| her lovely face was not flushed with
the palest rose.tint as she declined the
favor.
II can restore you to Italy," he
said. "What can Vance Erskine do
for you?"
ale can bring Italy here" answered
Rosala, as she thought OF the past
three months, when she had walked
over the enchanted ground in that
light which never shone on sea or
| land.
"a young man cannot love you as
| do" he said, with gasp, for the
blow was hard. "He loves himself
best, you will see. He is AN ill-regulat-
ed fellow. You can't count on him.
He's not reliable.
81 love his imperfections," said
Rosalia, light coming into her eyes
and transforming her face into perfect
beauty.
Sheldon was turning away with
curse, but his heart was sore. he
could not give up all hope.
al want to be your friend" he said,
with an effort. "If / can ever help
you, cometo me-"
Rosala looked relieved. She was
too tender hearted to wish to
hurt any living thing. She reached
out her delicate white hand.
"How thin your hand is" he said,
looking at thefragile thing that lay like
a roseleaf in his stubby palm. This
life is killing you. Let me at least
| help you to give it up"
ooh, how could that be doneY" said
Rosalia, with nervous laugh. Vance
will soon be promoted, and then"
Sheldon went out gnashing his teeth.
Course the fellow!" he said. "Iwish
could grind him to powder. / don't
give her up yet. will hinder that
promotion if | can"
At that very moment the fortunate
lover was cursine his luck, and pacing
the street IN q reckless way-seeing
nothing, hearing nothing, OF his sur
roundings. The world had grown diff
ferent to him, for he was standing face
to face with death-death or disgrace.
He had been forced by his own reck-
less folly into a corner where he must
choose between the two. And life was
sweet to him because OF his love, and
disgrace was all the more unbearable
because of her.
He had no excuse for his folly. He
had borrowed sum from the bank,
relying on an expected payment from
friend. The friend suddenly died in
solvent. Vance had squandered the
banks money, partly at the gaming
table. 1t must be replaced, Or
He turned suddenly. He would tell
Rose all. How unworthy, how ignoble
he wasl At his best he had never de-
served her, and now Her love
should have lifted him out OF his fol-
lies-should have sufficed for him. He
seemed to see all the sweet possibili-
ties OF his life rising before him. He
caught his breath with gasp-it was
too late, too latel
A drear London mist was rising. He
was rather glad to have the people
blotted out, and the houses. He long
ed to be alone neutrality-suspicious.
yet he shuddered at the awful lone
illness OF death.
"But it would be easier to leave a
world wrapt up in fog," he said, than
O. land OF sunshine and flowers. IL
there's anything that can make a man
feel like suicide it is London fog"
Rosalia was waiting for him. She
was not to sing this evening, and she
paced the room impatiently, with
some feeling OF unrest she could not
explain. Her cheeks were scarlet, her
eyes shone like stars. OF late she had
lost her pallor in the evening. Roses
bloomed on the. delicate cheeks
such roses as would have made her
mothers heart ache if she had lived
to see them. "Such brightness dying
seems diffuse."
Vance was not wise enough to un.
/ derstand. He only saw that she was